Category: Photos

How to Edit and Digitize Old Photos in 5 Steps

Breathe new life into your old family photos with these five tips for editing your digitized family photos.

Behind the Scenes in Old Photos: How Your Ancestors Got The Thanksgiving Turkey

Few tables are without a turkey on Thanksgiving. Let's look at how our ancestors got their turkeys, and how to preserve the stories of how we get ours now.

Solving the Uniform Mystery, Part 2

The uniform worn in this photo still has us stumped. This week, Photo Detective Maureen A. Taylor heads to Pinterest to gather more clues!

Uniform Confusion: Readers Offer Suggestions, Part 1

In a recent blog post, Photo Detective Maureen A. Taylor asked for your help identifying the type of uniform worn in this picture. Now, she's back on the case with more clues!

A Family in Three Photos

Dana Tipton submitted these three photographs from her family collection. Can our Photo Detective solve this family mystery in three photos?

What is it? Charcoal Portraits

Charcoal portraits are artistically enhanced photograph using charcoal, ink, or pastels that were popular in the 1800’s. Here's a quick history of the portraits, and what clues you can gather from them.

free family tree chart

Uncovering the Stories Behind Antique Store Photo Finds

When a contributor sent us five photos they found together at an antiques store, we challenged you to help us identify them. Find out how clues in antique-store photo finds, plus research in old records, added up to family stories.

What is it? A Carte des Visite

Cartes des visite were the most popular photographic formats in the nineteenth century. Here's a quick history of the cards, and what clues you can gather from them.

A Unique Photo Format of the Past: The Daguerreotype

Daguerreotypes were one of the first photographic methods to exist. Join us as Maureen A. Taylor shares their history and characteristics, as well as clues you can look for in them.

Teaming Up with Cousins to Solve Photo Mysteries

If you're having trouble identifying the people in your old family photos, your cousins may be able to help. Photo Detective Maureen A. Taylor shares how to find clues in your mysterious family photographs.

Photo Identification: Names, Dates and Places

Our reader, Linda, recently submitted a tintype she found in an old family bible. She knows who owned the bible, but not who is in the image. Photo Detective Maureen A. Taylor is on the case, sharing what clues she finds in this photo and helps narrow down the mystery.

22 Online Historical Photo Databases

Would you like to gain a deeper understanding of what daily life was like for your ancestors? Step into your ancestors’ world with the historical photos in these 22 online databases.

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